Business license for electronic bingo hall in Midfield approved

MIDFIELD, Alabama -- The City Council voted tonight to grant a business license for the charity, Set Free Christian Outreach Center, Inc., to operate an e-bingo hall in Midfield Plaza Shopping Center.

The hall will be housed in the former site of the Magic City Bingo on Phillips Drive. Mayor Gary Richardson said the operators plan to open the facility this weekend.

The hall's operators plan to have tabletop machines similar to ones being used in Center Stage Alabama in Dothan, Richardson said. The state Attorney General's Office last month sent that establishment a cease-and-desist letter.

Under the city's bingo ordinance, the hall was required to pay the city a $15,000 license fee before opening. Richardson said the fee is non-refundable, even if the hall is later raided by law enforcement officials.

E-bingo has slowly made a comeback in Jefferson County but has been met by raids from state and local officials.